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                    Against Charismatics?
                       by Craig Branch

God issues a warning to those who attempt to cloud an
important issue as Paul says, "charging them before the Lord
that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the
subverting of the hearers.  Study thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth" (2 Timothy 2: 14-15).

People who feel intimidated or weak in their position tend
to shift focus of the discussion to another topic or to
attack the motives of those in opposition, rather than the
facts which are taught in scripture.

For example, the pro-abortion group, instead of staying in
the arena of facts concerning the taking of a human life,
shift the subject to a women's right over her body, and call
their opponents fascists or anti-women. This same pattern is
found with some in the word-faith camp. They typically shift
the issue claiming that those who are opposing them are
anti-charismatic (cessationists - believing that the
miraculous gifts have ceased). This misinformation or red
herring is designed to lead their followers to automatically
dismiss anything word-faith critics say.

To set the record straight, the staff of Watchman Fellowship
is multi-denominational, as are most of the critics of the
word-faith movement. Watchman's staff is comprised of
Baptists, Presbyterians, Assemblies of God members, etc. We
know that God does heal and does the miraculous. Most of
Watchman's staff believe in the continuance of the
miraculous gifts for today. Biblically, all Christians are
charismatics in that we all possess spiritual gifts.

Those in the word-faith camp who claim their critics are
just anti-charismatic are not accurate even about the
Biblical definition of charisma (Spiritual gifts endowed by
God) nor are they factual in their assertions.  To drive
this point home it is important for the follower of the word-
faith teachers to know that many pentecostals and
charismatics are very critical of the word-faith theology.

For example, Florence Bulle, a "charismatic," has written an
excellent book titled "The Many Faces of Deception"
(formerly, "God Wants You Rich and Other Enticing
Doctrines"). In her first chapter, "Following God for Fun
and Profit," she strongly denounces the "Name-it, Claim-it"
teaching, demonstrating how contrary it is to the Scripture
and God's way of living.

Well-known pastor and charismatic leader of Calvary Chapel,
Chuck Smith wrote a book, "Charisma vs. Charismania," where
he writes, "The latest wind of pernicious, unscriptural doctrine
to blow through the ranks of some charismatics is the 'what-you-say-
is-what-you-get teaching,' otherwise known as the prosperity
doctrine" (Chuck Smith, "Charisma vs. Charismania," p.135).

He also soundly condemns the teaching of  "negative and
positive" confession as well as the teaching that sickness
is a result of lack of faith. Smith agrees with Watchman
when he states that these teachings " sound more like Mary
Baker Eddy [Christian Science] than the Apostle Paul."
(Ibid.).

R.L. Whitworth had been senior pastor of one of the largest
Assembly of God churches, Calvary Assembly, for 30 years
when he wrote the book "God Told Me to Tell You."
In it, Whitworth not only exposes the false demonstrations
of "the word of knowledge," but also ably condemns the
doctrines of the word-faith teachers. He too equates the
"name-it and claim-it" theory as a  repeat of the Science of
Mind ideas of Earnest Holmes," founder of  the new age
church of Religious Science. (R.L. Whitworth, "God Told Me
to Tell You," p.121).

Dr. George Wood, an Assistant Superintendent in the Assembly
of God, a pentecostal, writes about the multitude of people
he has seen who have experienced "devastating spiritual and
psychological damage caused by the positive confession
movement."  He observes that there are three basic faulty
assumptions controlling the "positive confession" theology.

First, that God wills perfect health, total healing, and
complete prosperity for every believer. Second, that God has
obligated himself to heal every sickness and to financially
prosper those who have faith. Third, any failure is not the
fault of God, but is caused by a lack of faith or sin in the
individual's life.

Dr. Wood comments that these teachers "have missed the Bible
in three ways: They twist particular verses out of their
plain meaning; they refuse to deal with Scriptures which
plainly have different meanings than those of the 'positive
confession'; and they fail to let the Bible interpret
itself." (Dr. George Wood, "Mountain Movers," July 1988).

Well known charismatic, David Wilkerson, writes in the late
Keith Green's "Last Days Ministries" newsletter, that he too
has seen many Christians "throughout our nation, whose faith
is shipwrecked" because of the "faith movement." He writes
that they began to "believe that getting every desire of the
heart depended simply on getting their formulas correct.
They were challenged to launch out in God for prosperity,
perfect health, and whatever else their minds could
conceive. Conceive then believe... That includes removing
from your vocabulary any negative thoughts, words, or
confessions."

Wilkerson comments, "My friends, that kind of theology is
silly," and proceeds to present the correct teaching about
God's nature and loving relationship in the believer's life.

The Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements'
article on "Positive Confession Theology" serves as both a
documentation of the heretical teachings and their teachers
of the word-faith movement, as well as some sound
correction. It identifies E.W. Kenyon as the founder, and
men like Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Charles Capps,
Frederick K.C. Price, Robert Tilton, Earl Paulk and others
as his disciples.

The article states that the "theological claims, while based
on faulty presuppositions, has a universal appeal" as it
feeds the natural fallen nature of man. The article points
out that "the Rhema interpretation is their biased selection
of biblical passages, often without due regard to their
context... This approach not only does violence to the text
but forces the New Testament linguistic data into artificial
categories that the Bible authors themselves could not affirm"
("Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements,"
1988, pp.718-720).

Other Pentecostal and Charismatic scholars have written in-
depth correctives to this harmful teaching. This is
significant as none of the word-faith teachers claim to be
scholars or well-trained theologically. Many times they
admit this and even foolishly ridicule those who have a
depth of scholarship. The Bible is very clear that those who
become teachers have a much greater responsibility. They are
to be well grounded in sound doctrine. (Colossians 2:6-7;
Titus 1:9; Titus 2:1; 1 Timothy 3: 1-3; 4:6; 2 Timothy 4:1-
4; James 3:1.)

Dr. Charles Farah, Jr. was Professor of Theology and
Historical Studies at Oral Roberts University and wrote an
excellent article for "Pneuma: The Journal of the Society
for Pentecostal Studies" titled, "A Critical Analysis: The
Roots and Fruits of Faith-Formula Theology" (Spring, 1981,
pp.3-21). He summarizes his article by noting, "The movement
uses Gnostic hermeneutical principles and displaces
contextual scientific exegesis. It shares many of the goals
of present day humanism, particularly in regards to the
creaturely comforts. It is, in fact, a burgeoning heresy"
(Ibid., p.21).

A more recent article in "Pneuma," "Cultic Origins of Word-
Faith Theology Within the Charismatic Movement," was written
by H. Terris Newman, Bible professor at Southeastern College
of the Assemblies of God. Newman adds Paul Yonggi Cho,
Norman Vincent Peale and Robert Schuller to the list of word-
faith teachers who reflect more Mind-Science "theology" than
Biblical truth.

He concludes, "In view of the fact of the cultic origins of
the health and wealth gospel, its heretical Christology, its
devastating effects on human lives and the false portrayal
of Christianity it presents to the world, this paper is a
call to the wider evangelical community also to engage in an
apologetic that will distinguish the gospel of Jesus Christ
from those who indeed propagate a different gospel" (Newman,
"Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal
Studies," Spring 1990, pp.32-55).

Of course one of the most thorough, scholarly works done in
this area is the book "A Different Gospel," written by D.R.
McConnell of Oral Roberts University, himself an
unapologetic charismatic.

Dr. Gordan Fee, theology professor at Gordon-Conwell
seminary has dealt with the exegetical and interpretive
errors of the health and wealth teachings in two articles,
one published in "The Pentecostal Evangel" and the other in
"Agora," which have been combined into a booklet titled,
"The Disease of the Health and Wealth Gospels."

Fee points out in passage after passage that those who
accept the word-faith teaching are doing so because they
want to and because it appeals to man's base selfish
desires. No one can possibly come to their conclusions based
on an accurate exegesis and historical view of the Bible.

Two of the most outspoken current critics of the word-faith
movement are Christian Research Institute, founded by the
late Dr. Walter Martin and now led by Hank Hanegraaff, both
"charismatic" Christians, and Cornerstone Ministries, led by
Eric Pement, also "charismatic." Personal Freedom Outreach's
staff member, Steve Cannon, who exposes these errors, also
comes from the charismatic-pentecostal tradition.

And last but certainly not least, the Assemblies of God
issued an official statement in 1980 on "The Believer and
Positive Confession." It is a sound, balanced view of the
issues of faith, healing, miracles, prayer and the life of a
believer. The statement demonstrates how the excesses of the
word-faith theology "are in conflict with the Word of God."
It correctly points out that true Biblical faith considers
the will and sovereignty of God which can be discerned from
a sound hermeneutic (i.e., rules of Bible interpretation).

In admirable pastoral concern, the statement concludes with,
"God's Word does teach great truths such as healing,
provision for need, faith, and the authority of believers...
But these truths must always be considered in the framework
of the total teaching of Scripture. When abuses occur, there
is sometimes a temptation to draw back from these great
truths of God's Word... The fact that doctrinal aberrations
develop, however, is not a reason for rejecting or remaining
silent concerning them" (p.22).

All of these articles and more which demonstrate the harm
and heretical nature of the word-faith movement are
available for a donation to Watchman  Fellowship to cover
expenses. Pray with us that the leaders and followers will
be like Apollos, a gifted and dynamic communicator, when
Priscilla and Aquila took him aside to explain "the way of God
more perfectly." He responded and was powerfully used to help
correctly teach those "which had believed through grace"
(Acts 18: 24-28).